No. 9 UConn beats Providence, 86-53, to advance in Big East Tournament

Paige Bueckers scored 29 points as No. 9 UConn conquered an injury to Aaliyah Edwards to beat Providence, 86-53, on Saturday and advance in the ladies’s Big East Tournament.

Freshman KK Arnold included 17 points for the top-seeded Huskies (27-5, 18-0), who went unbeaten in the Big East throughout the routine season and sophisticated to a conference semifinal for the 36th straight season. Edwards had 12 points before leaving the videogame in the 2nd half with a facial injury.

Grace Efosa had 23 points and 8 rebounds for Providence, which endedup the season at 13-20 and 6-12 in the conference.

UConn led by 10 points at halftime, however Providence scored the veryfirst 5 points of the 2nd half.

It was 41-35 when Edwards took an elbow to the face from Sarah Bandoma 4 minutes into the 3rd quarter. The senior center, who came into the videogame averaging 17.9 points and 9.5 rebounds, had to be assisted to the locker space.

Bueckers missedouton both totallyfree tosses on an occurring deliberate nasty, however UConn reacted to the injury by outscoring Providence 45-18 the rest of the method.

Bueckers’ 3-guideline sentout the Huskies into the 4th quarter leading 62-45 and a jumper from Ice Brady put the Huskies up, 67-47.

Edwards returned to the bench with a splint on her nose and cotton in both nostrils with simply over 5 minutes left in the videogame and UConn leading 74-51.

UConn dealswith either Villanova or Marquette in the Big East semifinals on Sunday.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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